A fresh contemporary romance about a lonely girl looking for love, family and the perfect dress.

Managing a flailing second-hand clothes shop in an English village is not part of Cally Kirkwood’s life plan. But she’s travelled across the world to meet her birth father and she won’t leave until he acknowledges her.

But life happens when you’re busy making plans, and Cally soon finds herself completely invested in converting the grungy shop into a beautiful vintage clothing store, despite the opposition of her new employer’s son, Sam Hunter.

Sam is instantly attracted to Cally but can’t figure her out. There’s something she isn’t telling him and he doesn’t know whether to trust her—yet he can’t stay away.

An unexpected discovery means Cally must decide whether her true loyalty lies with her father or Sam. She thought she’d do anything to find love; but choosing between her past and her future may leave her with no love at all.

Sam dropped the rake, grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow and wheeled Cally at top speed towards the pile of leaves.

‘Wha—?’ Cally’s squeal was cut short as she was tumbled into the leaves. Sam picked up a handful of colourful foliage and dumped it on her, laughing at her look of mock outrage, before diving into the pile to join her. ‘I haven’t done this for years. My sisters and I loved playing in the leaves when we were kids. Dad would rake the biggest pile and we’d bomb it. He’d pretend it drove him nuts, but he loved it too.’

Through the leaves, Cally felt Sam’s hands grab her and he hoisted her up, rolling her until she was lying, stretched out along the full length of his muscular body. His hands stroked down her back, falling to rest on her buttocks. He squeezed lightly, his hands wedging her closer until she could feel his hardness, and a blazing need for him clutched deep in her belly.

She buried her face into his neck, breathing in the tantalisingly earthy mix of garden and leather, licking the salt from beneath his ear. His hands slipped underneath the huge coat, searching for skin, but finding only the frustration of a dress not designed to aid exploring fingers. She laughed, wriggling suggestively, as she kissed him, her tongue wrangling with his, teasing, probing. She knew he was trying to distract her from asking personal questions, which heightened her curiosity nearly as much as it heightened her desire. She wanted to know so much more about him.

Pulling away, she looked into eyes that were strong and sensual. It was too much to hope a man this beautiful could ever really be hers. Even dressed in old clothes, lying in a pile of leaves, he emanated so much irresistible desire.

But she had to fight the attraction, not succumb to it. There were too many complications to their relationship … She struggled out of his grasp, sat up and brushed the leaves out of her hair. They had no future once he discovered who she was.

Whatever personal information he avoided sharing with her, it had nothing on the secret she hid from him.

Maddie Jane lives near the beach in Christchurch, New Zealand, with her husband, three children and a very hairy dog. She has a journalism qualification as well as a degree in history and English literature from Canterbury University.

She started reading romance novels when she was far too young and hasn’t stopped. When she isn’t reading or writing she likes walking on the beach and planning her characters’ happy ever afters.

She enjoys reading, holidays, reading on her holidays, movies with happy endings and spending time with family and friends.